#McCannesHealth & the first ever Lions Health Awards

You may or may not have seen our blog posts on last year in Cannes with McCann Health and the launch of the Health Lions... If you haven't you can read all about how it started here: 

Kicking off Cannes with McCann Health 

and here: 

Cannes Health Lions 

We collaborated with McCann Health for the second year running and the outcome was incredible. Continue reading to see just how McCann Health spent their Lions Health. 

The McCann Health Balcony on the Croisette 

Our work with McCann Health for Cannes started when Jeremy Perrot, President of the Pharma Jury at the inaugural Cannes Health Lions and ringmaster of the 2nd McCann Health Balcony lunch and dinner debates gave us a brief to find a speaker for the closing session of Lions Health talks, as well as finding a presenter to open the awards ceremony itself. 

The Pharma Jury and Jeremy Perrot - The Pharma President and Global Creative Director of McCann Health
read his interview on the Lions Health page HERE

We agreed on Game of Thrones Director David Nutter -  he spoke about what is means to 'Fight For Your Creative Life' in his world and how it related to the world of Health as briefed by Jeremy. 

David Nutter being interviewed by Ellie Parpis from McCann Health NY on the McCann Health Balcony in Cannes

We were incredibly excited to confirm Francesca Martinez, the hilarious comedian with cerebral palsy as the official presenter to open the first Health Lions awards ceremony. Her set, again briefed by Jeremy, lit up the night with smiles and belly laughs, and included her talking about her new book 'What the F**K is Normal?'. 

Francesca Martinez with Global Chief Executive Office of McCann Health - John Cahill

She segued beautifully into the announcement of a clutch of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for McCann Health in a fierce battle to showcase the strongest global Health work. The standard was incredible and has paved the was for Health to find its rightful place in one of the most coveted award shows in the world. 

Executive Creative Director June Laffey with McCann Health's GOLD Lion

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While Jeremy was locked away inside the Palais with his Jury, John Cahill led the balcony lunches and dinners down on La Croisette at La Maison Bouffe - McCann Health's pop up restaurant headed up by celebrity chef Maria Elia.  

John introduced the incredible speakers. Her Excellency Toyin Saraki, who spoke about her work in Nigeria and her new role as the Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives.

Kathy Calvin the President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation, who gave a stirring speech on behalf of the partnership the UN Foundation has with McCann health, and the groundbreaking work they have done and are doing together for the UN.

And finally, the incredible young couple Sophia Klumpp and Paul Grinvalds who founded AFRIPADS spoke about why they've lived in Uganda for the last 6 years on a mission to provide Menstrual Kits for young girls so they can go to school. They were inspiring and proud to tell the audience they were about to open their first factory in Uganda. Their talk made us all feel like we could do a little more... So if you know anyone with some old pedal sewing machines, let us know... they need them!

Sophia Klumpp & Paul Grinvalds from AFRIPADS

McCann Health with H.E. Toyin Saraki and Kathy Calvin outside the Palais, Sophia and Paul from AFRIPADS speaking over the McCann Health Lunch and a Tuna Niçoise Salad from Maria Elia's 'La Maison Bouffe'. 

After lunch, H.E. Toyin Saraki, Kathy Calvin and Derk Hendriksen, GM of EKOCENTER at The Coca-Cola Company joined McCann Healh and the UNF Panel to discuss Empowering Health Consumers: Driving Progress for Global Health Goals.

All this was put into place by Jeremy Perrot and John Cahill to challenge and entertain the delegates. They were the talk of the town!

After a packed day at the Palais, guests were invited back to the McCanns Health Balcony for an 'Incredible Sharing Dinner' at La Maison Bouffe. People started to arrive and were met with grapefruit cocktails and bacon popcorn, before sitting down to plates of salads, followed by paprika chicken in a tomato and peach sauce, which was topped off with a cardamom and orange blossom rice pudding with pistachios and fairy floss.

It was an incredible evening with wonderful friends from around the world.



The McCann Health PR team - Debs Zdobinski, Ellie Parpis, Jeremy Miller and Rahel Rasu, texted, tweeted and filmed all the speakers in and out of the Palais, the juice runs, and the general McCann Health vibe in Cannes. Along with Jeremy and John they brought an awesome show to town. 


Cheers to another amazing, successful few days. We can't wait for next year!

The Gunners x

#cannespopup
@greatgunstv

a great update

Friday has come round again and have we got loads of news for you! 

We've had a busy couple of weeks at Great Guns. The prep for Cannes has well and truly started (a mere 34 days until the GG crew touch down in the French Riviera) we've revamped one of our offices, made a big announcement, launched an exhibition, changed a website... and we're about to tell you all about it! 

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Announcements should come first and ours is a good'un. Jonathon Ker, former Partner and EP at Paydirt has joined the family as Partner and CEO of Great Guns USA. Joining Ker at GG USA will be Executive Producer Annie Hanlon, who's focus will be on digital and new media work. 

Ker and Hanlon will work closely with Laura and her team of Great Guns EP's and Producers in London. 

You can read all about it on LBB: HERE

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With big announcements comes office revamps and the LA office has undergone a beautiful one. The lovely Nanna who transformed our UK office a few years ago jetted out to LA to work her interior design magic. 

Vaudeville's sound suite is up and running after their successful LA launch a few weeks ago.

The revamped space is now effortlessly cool and more like a gorgeous home than an office. Check out the amazing grassy balcony (we even have a BBQ!)

View of our LA home from Soho House LA! 

We're very happy with our LA home! 

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With a new home comes a new look and we've done just that on the Great Guns website. With loads of new features there's lots to see!

Go on... go explore it www.greatguns.com 

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Moving on to events, we've had a few recently. We headed into central last week to watch the launch of the D&AD Next Director Awards. Laura is Foreman on the Jury. 

The event was held at Google just off Tottenham Court Road.

Like all great events it started with canapés and excited chatter. 

Then the speeches got underway and the 2014 jury was introduced by Laura. 

The Next Director Award is a brand new award which aims to expose the best new directorial talent (directors with 2 years or less professional experience). The winner and nominees will get amazing exposure at international screenings, the D&AD platform and YouTube as well as mentoring from top production companies. 

You can still enter your work now if you're interested CLICK HERE

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We ended this week with an event for Timothy Allen at Glassworks in Soho. It was an evening to launch his new exhibition 'Travels Around Our Human Planet'. 

The exhibition features 20 of Tim's favourite prints from his travels around the world. The exhibition will remain in London for a month before traveling to Glassworks in Amsterdam.

2 Timothy Allen fans all the way from St. Albans!

Tim spent a few minutes talking about his favourite prints to a lovely crowd. We then enjoyed nibbles and wine, while admiring the amazing photographs. The evening was a big success and everyone had a great time. 

Don't worry if you missed it as the exhibition will return to London for a closing party towards the end of the summer. Watch this space! 

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No restaurant suggestions this week but we'll come back with a killer one next time... On that note, have a fantastic weekend wherever you are. 

The Gunners x 

cheers to a leisurely long weekend

The first long bank holiday weekend of the year has reared its head and we've got some great weekend suggestions for you. But first things first - we have some new work out! 

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Olivier Venturini and Great Guns joined forces with Brothers & Sisters to film the first brand film for Matt Cooper's new venture The Fableists - a totally sustainable children's clothing line. 

Shot on location around London, the film follows the journey of Finn, a fearless young boy who escapes to an urban jungle on his skateboard. 

The two minute film is the first in a series of films which will document extraordinary kids around the world. Kids with gifts, drive and ambitions who have overcome adversity.  

You can watch the film on YouTube - CLICK HERE and read the full press release on LBB HERE.

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Some of you might already know but Vaudeville owned by the lovely Dan Jones have a sound suite in our London office in the basement. Dan's just made a move across the pond, and when he was looking to set up shop over in LA it seemed apt that it would be out of our LA office. 

LA looking b-e-a-utiful on the day of the Vaudeville launch. 

We don't have many pictures from the launch and have yet to show you all what our LA office looks like. But here's a little party pic from the outside terrace. 

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In awards news - Ilya Naishuller's 'Bad Motherfucker' has just been awarded an Official Honoree of the 18th Annual Webby Awards. With over 12,000 entries this year, we're so pleased that it's been recognised in the top 20 percent of all work entered! You can watch the film on YouTube - CLICK HERE. 

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On to our bank holiday suggestions. First up TURN is screening this sunday at the London Independent Film Festival. From 1pm onwards on Easter Sunday you can watch it alongside a selection of other great short films at the Short Wave cinema 

Sticking to the film theme, if you want to get stuck into something slightly longer & a lot more violent - Great Guns producer Sheridan Thomas recommends THE RAID 2. 

press pic from The Raid 2

Packed with a relentless barrage of action scenes, the two-and-a-half hour epic impresses with its amazing combat scenes entwined with a surprisingly gripping crime-drama story. Watch the trailer HERE and if you can handle the gore, catch it at pretty much any cinema. 

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Now no bank holiday weekend is complete without a great meal. And Laura Gregory has suggested The Perkin Reveller. It's situated on the grassy bank below the Tower of London - you could kill two birds with one stone... pay a visit to the Tower and then pop for lunch afterwards. 

If the weather is nice we suggest sitting out on the terrace, but knowing London it will rain... which is fine because the inside is just as nice! 

All their food is seasonal and homemade, using local produce and fresh ingredients. Their menu changes according to season, so the best way to find out what's good is to go and try it for yourself. 

At Easter you can't go wrong with a gorgeous leg of lamb and lashings of mint sauce. 

They do killer cocktails too! Here's one for the grownup kids. 

(all pictures courtesy of The Perkin Reveller) 

You can reserve online or give them a call : +44 (0)20 3166 6949

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On that note we hope you all have a wonderful & relaxing Easter. 

Love, The Gunners x 

www.greatguns.com